Kewanee man gets 24 years for sexual assault of 12-year-old girl

Wednesday

Aug 20, 2014 at 11:45 AM

Gary L. Smith

A Kewanee man was sentenced Tuesday to 24 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl last fall.Edward E. Eaton Jr., 39, had pleaded guilty in June to the Class X felony of predatory criminal sexual assault under a partially negotiated agreement in which a second count of that offense was dismissed.“You were 38 years old when this offense occurred, the child was 12 years old. She knew you and trusted you,” Circuit Judge Thomas Keith told Eaton during the hearing in Stark County Circuit Court.“You’ve harmed this 12-year-old child in ways that I can’t even imagine,” Keith continued. “The lasting effects on a child I have seen with my own eyes — sometimes physically, sometimes mentally. The effect is lasting on a child.”Even two aunts of Eaton who sent a letter on his behalf acknowledged such effects, noted State’s Attorney Jim Owens. The women wrote, “We realize with great sadness that (the victim) has lost her childhood because of this violation,” said Owens, who sought a 30-year sentence.“It’s one of the worst offenses a man can commit against a child of any age,” Owens said.Defense attorney Ed Woller said Eaton has a history of mental illness as well as alcohol and drug abuse. While Eaton has been convicted of drug offenses, burglary, and domestic battery in the past, his record does not include any prior sex crimes, the lawyer said.“Compared to some of the clients I’ve seen, it’s not the worst (record) in the world,” Woller told Keith. “My thoughts are that 30 years are for people in different circumstances than Mr. Eaton, so I’m going to suggest that you go significantly below that.”Eaton, who will have to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence, has spent much of his time in the county jail studying the Bible and the spirituality that is a key part of a 12-step program, he told Keith.“I sit here in my cell,” Eaton said, “thinking and praying to God that he and that little girl will forgive me.”